KOTA KINABALU: There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel for the owners of the Ming Garden Residence (South China Sea Place) as they are finally receiving the three-year arrears owed to them by Sabah Urban Development Corporation (SUDC).

According to Parti Kesehjateraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) Kota Kinabalu Division chief Datuk Seri Winston Liaw, the issue was resolved with the assistance of the party’s vice president Datuk Ronnie Loh.

Liaw explained that when the Covid-19 pandemic began in February 2020, SUDC stopped paying rental to all owners of Ming Garden Residence.

“Since the end of 2020, Datuk Ronnie and I had numerous meetings with SUDC, had even held a protest in front of Ming Garden Residence together with several owners with the hopes that the government will intervene and help.

“From April 2021 when the tenancy agreement expired, SUDC failed to deliver vacant possession without giving back the unit keys to owners, also leaving all the units without electricity supply,” Liaw claimed.

He said that he and Loh had visited the top management of SESB numerous times to discuss the probability of individual electric meters for individual units.

However due to complications, the situation was dragged on until January this year, when it was settled and all units getting their individual meters installed, he said.

“Datuk Ronnie and I also visited the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship as well as the Finance Ministry asking government bodies to help in the rental arrears issue and finally a sum of RM10 million was approved as a loan to SUDC to settle the guaranteed rental arrears,” he said.

Liaw said Loh also recommended the reputed Short Stay Management Consultant mushROOM, with the consent of the owners, to assist in the future operation of short stay business at Ming Garden Residence in order to maximise the return benefit for owners with smooth operation. Liaw, who represents the majority of the owners, expressed their gratitude to Loh for his kind assistance in solving all the issues facing for the past three years.